Exploring Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

It offers an ideal escape, nestled in a deep valley south of the city, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park features a dozen miles of hiking and biking trails, fast-moving streams, open grasslands and incredible rock formations.

Scattered throughout the park are giant sinkholes and deep chasms that give you a glimpse of an underground river. Part of that river system is the infamous Devil's Icebox and Connor's Cave. The cave extends only a few hundred feet, so anyone can explore it. But, the Devil's Icebox includes seven miles of passages that stretch under the entire park. You can see them only on guided tours. A boardwalk provides easy access to the caves and takes you over tranquil creeks and under the park's namesake: a natural rock bridge.

And, there is plenty to do other than just exploring areas near the boardwalk. Take a leisurely stroll across rolling hills or pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the outdoors. The best part about Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is that it's so close to home for most mid-Missourians. It's less than four miles from downtown Columbia, although the park seems as if it's a world away.